25 June 2016

In early summer for the last 10 years, a bunch of recumbent riders have descended on a little hotel in Kellogg Idaho to ride around on a long bike trail and generally have fun.

This year, we finally made it!

By standing Red Leader's (my husband's) Gekko trike (folded) on end, and lashing it to the grab bars, we fit everything in the back of the SUV. Lunch on the first driving day at Black Bear Diner. YUM.

We stopped off in Corvallis to visit with The StepSon, his wife, and their two little dogs. Great pub grub at Block 15 Brewing Co.

Next day, arriving at the hotel in Kellogg, it was like someone kicked over a nest of recumbent riders. Trikes, bikes, and people everywhere.

It was a bit overwhelming, so Red Leader and I went for a little ride up the trail to shake off the 2 days of driving.

Red Leader in yellow Sunday evening on the trail

The next day, we rode with the group (as much of a group as a bunch of independently minded folks can be) to Mullan, the easternmost end of the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes.

Swarm ready to leave for Mullan

Red Leader learned to stop in the shade and eat some raisins. This was RL's longest ride ever at 38 miles. GO TEAM.

I'm melting!

Mullan trailhead

The next day, it looked like rain (it did rain in the morning) so we drove to Wallace (we'd ridden through it the day before) to play tourist.

Railroad museum, silver mine tour (interesting - the mine never produced anything, but was eventually turned into a class room for aspiring high-school aged miners.)

Humongous drill

Ore cart loader

Big metal thing on a chain that drags rock and mud out of the way

Larry, our retired miner guide, unloaded an amazing amount of information on us, including operating mining equipment for us. He took a picture of us in front of the fake entrance to the mine. Tourist-ing is fun!

Lunch at the Blackboard, where I took a pic of the kitten drawing to remind me how patient Red Leader has been with my hunger-induced brain-fades.

Art at the Blackboard Cafe

We went out for a short ride, late in the afternoon, west on the trail. No pictures of this. The trail in this area has informational placards about the (former) mining industry here.

The next day, our last day of riding, we drove with a subset of attendees over to Harrison to ride west to the bridge, then back.

Ready to leave

Some folks went on to Plummer, but I demanded ice cream (think kitten) so we turned around. Huckleberry and Caribou Track ice cream for lunch. YES. I'm ON VACATION!

We packed up the next day and drove home, stopping off at a nice Super8 in Klamath Falls.

We started earlier (much earlier than Red Leader would normally prefer) today. It will be hot hot hot.
It was under 90 our entire ride, but not by much.

Red Leader stated that 20 miles seems like nothing much now. I suggested we shoot for 20 on weekdays, and 35 on weekends and see how that goes.

We might ride at night later this week (something I'm willing to put up with to avoid frying like an egg on a griddle).

Two notable sights today.
Super Fast Squirrel: the squirrel attained 12mph along side Red Leader. The poor wee beastie was just trying to get back into the weeds while avoiding the madly spinning Wheel of Death beside him.
and
The Incredible Paceline o' Legs: a trio of roller bladers in a perfectly synchronized pace line, pushing along in step. If they had not been in step, they would have fouled each others' skates.

24 June 2016

So, I was so wrapped up in prepping for riding in Idaho (see next post), that I neglected to write about these two local rides.

So, here goes!
#423-424 / #217-218

9th June, a cool afternoon ride along the American River, Folsom to Sunrise and back.
I suppose I should look up the official name of that place we turn around. I mean, "The porta potties and the water fountain" is not very clear, now is it?

onemomentplease

Ok. "The parking lot off Elmanto." There, isn't that better?

12th June, Beals Point.
It was hot, we did it anyway. Red Leader commented that the hills seem less troublesome than before.
I agree.
We should toss this ride in every once in a while for strength. All you who do thousands of feet of climbing for a ride may move along. Nothing to see here. Move along, move along.